Inhabitots

Get Rockin’ with Knú’s Eco-friendly Red Ball Rocker

Our affinity for Knú products began with their stylish line of pint-sized sustainable tables and chairs, and now that they’ve brought back the rockin’ Red Ball Rocker there’s even more to love. The Red Ball Rocker is a reproduction of an original 1964 design by Gloria Caranica. Knú’s fresh, eco-friendly spinoff of the red ball design makes theirs the perfect mod rocker for stylish green kiddos.

READ MORE >

email this email this tweet this tweet this facebook this facebook this 0

Mini Modernist Bauhaus Models for Design Savvy Families

Whether or not you subscribe to the notion that the Bauhaus school is the cornerstone of all great Modernist design, you might very well become a convert when you behold these lilliputian renditions created as a promotional showcase for the New Zealand based paint company, Renese. Crafted by Auckland sculptor Gidon Bing and styled by Katie Lockhart, we love that these design-savvy ‘dollhouses’ meld haute craft, architecture, and an eco friendly color palette with a clever wink to the Bauhaus of yore sensibility.

READ MORE >

email this email this tweet this tweet this facebook this facebook this 0

Patriotic gDiapers for July 4th!

Your baby can proudly don the red, white and blue this Independence Day with the latest addition to the eco-friendly gDiapers collection: patriotic glory g little gPants! gDiapers are on a design roll this season with their delightful summer-friendly girly girl ruffle gPant, their glam black gPants for baby sophisticates… and  they’ve just introduced two new gPants — the fresh summer waters blue go fish blue little gPants and the limited edition patriotic glory g little gPants, just in time for the 4th of July!

READ MORE >

email this email this tweet this tweet this facebook this facebook this 0

Bo Ekström’s Fold-Down Nathi Changing Table Saves Space, Backs

Urban dwellers living in cramped quarters will appreciate Swedish designer Bo Ekström’s Nathi changing table, made from Forestry Stewardship Council certified birch and finished with non-toxic, water-based lacquer. Mountable to your wall at any …

READ MORE >

email this email this tweet this tweet this facebook this facebook this 0

Uroko House Book Igloo is a Book Lover’s Dream Bed

If you’re a bibliophile like me, you may have fallen asleep amidst a pile of your favorite books as a youngster too. I would have loved nestling into the Uroko House book igloo with all of my treasured fairy tales. Dreamed up by Point Architects, the cozy enclosure that surrounds a child’s bed is also a storage-filled bookshelf. Now your little ones can nod off to dreamland surrounded by their beloved bedtime stories.

READ MORE >

email this email this tweet this tweet this facebook this facebook this 0

Kitty Egg Upcycled Molded Crayons

These adorable little kitty egg molded crayons are sure to bring a smile to your tot’s face. Each chunky kitty crayon is individually custom-molded from non-toxic wax crayons. Their sweet faces are then hand-carved into their egg shaped bodies, which are ergonomically designed for the grasp of little hands. Each kitty stands up on his own, just waiting …

READ MORE >

email this email this tweet this tweet this facebook this facebook this 0

Anka Mini Furniture by Svan

Serve up a hearty dose of Scandinavian style at your toddler’s next tea party with Svan’s Anka Mini Furniture Set. The sleek table for four even includes a stool for grownup guests. But the multipurpose furniture, which has been crafted from sustainable birch, is good for more than make-believe munchies—it can just as easily host a finger-painting …

READ MORE >

email this email this tweet this tweet this facebook this facebook this 0

‘Landscape Apertura’ Treehouse Offers Picturesque Views of Nature

Perched above the ground, treehouse visitors are given an elevated perspective of the world we inhabit everyday. The ‘Landscape Apertura’ treehouse, located in Powell Gardens near Kansas City, MO, was designed by Robert McLaughlin, to be a whimsical, yet purposeful structure, with an aim to direct one’s attention to the beautiful outdoors through framed views of nature, gazed upon via six strategically located, bold green window frames.

READ MORE >

email this email this tweet this tweet this facebook this facebook this 1

Sail into Summer with Organic Cotton & Wooden Sailboats

Summertime abounds with splashy water adventures for kids: beach excursions, lake escapes, swimming pool parties. Designer Willow Baus’ handmade wooden sailboats with organic cotton sails are a kid’s quintessential sidekick when hitting the waves. A stylish, eco alternative to plastic beach toys, each wooden vessel is hand cut and finished with natural beeswax, coconut oil and orange oil. The wind is put …

READ MORE >

email this email this tweet this tweet this facebook this facebook this 0

Kent and London Sustainable Alphabet Drawers

“F” is for flower barrettes, “S” is for organic socks, “T” is for little tees; the Alphabet Drawers have your child’s collection of gear organized from A to Z. Inspired by vintage printing blocks, this chest of lettered drawers is not only beautiful, it will help a child learn his ABC’s simply by residing in the same room! The 26 drawers are perfect for storing all of your little one’s clothing and accessories, and it may graduate to home office use, as a fabulous filing cabinet - no labeled ABC dividers necessary!

READ MORE >

email this email this tweet this tweet this facebook this facebook this 0

5 Easy-to-Clean, PVC-Free Travel Changing Pads

Savvy parents know that PVC-free is the way to be. One of the most poisonous plastics ever created, polyvinyl chloride (or vinyl) presents great environmental and health hazards from manufacture to disposal. Considering that toxic additives like phthalates and lead continue to leach, flake, or off-gas from PVC throughout its life, moms and dads would be prudent to give the plastic a wide berth, especially when it comes to their babies’ bare tushies.

While PVC-derived travel changing pads abound because the material’s waterproof and wipeable properties are a boon when you’re on the road, we managed to scrounge up several planet-friendlier options that are just as easy to clean, even when you don’t have a washing machine standing by.

READ MORE >

email this email this tweet this tweet this facebook this facebook this 0

Eco-Chic Baby Slings by Serena & Lily

Motherhood may be causing you to lose sleep, but you don’t have to jettison your sense of individuality—or style—as well. Serena & Lily’s flax linen and organic cotton Market slings are, in a word, gorgeous, featuring delicate hand embroidery, bold block prints, and dreamy color palettes, along with a seamless, buckle- and strap-free construction that makes storing them a cinch. (Hey, you’re …

READ MORE >

email this email this tweet this tweet this facebook this facebook this 0

Recycled PET Stroller Totes by Dante Beatrix

You and your bambino have places to go, people to see, things to do—now all that’s missing is a trailer (or at least one über-roomy bag), to haul all that baby gear in. The perfect size for strapping to yourself or a stroller, Dante Beatrix’s adorable eco stroller totes are made from nylon derived entirely from recycled PET plastic bottles, and they’re trimmed with natural canvas.

READ MORE >

email this email this tweet this tweet this facebook this facebook this 0

Beaba Multiportion Baby Food Freezer Trays Make Mealtime Easy

Making your own homemade organic baby food is a tasty and healthy way to feed your little one; but finding non-toxic storage options that won’t result in freezer burned food can be tricky. Simplify the baby food making process, and your life, with a set of clever Beaba Multiportion Freezer Trays. Each BPA-free silicone container consists …

READ MORE >

email this email this tweet this tweet this facebook this facebook this 0

Corn PLA Toddler Tableware From Dandelion Earth-Friendly Goods

Dandelion Earth-Friendly Goods’ ReUsable line of Corn (PLA) child-sized plates, bowls, sippy cups, and utensils are designed to help your tot transition to mealtime independence in eco-friendly style. The bowl’s deep sides reduce splashing, the divided sections on each plate keep foods separate, and the flatware and cups are the right size for tinier grips. What’s the hoopla over PLA? Find out after the jump…

READ MORE >

email this email this tweet this tweet this facebook this facebook this 0

PREGNANCY SWIMMING: An interview with Olympian mom Dara Torres

With all the emphasis on exercise and physical fitness these days, it seems amazing that just twenty years ago doctors advised pregnant women to ‘rest up’ and cut back on exercise while pregnant. The jury is in, and doctors now advise that exercise is good for expectant mothers and their babies - both pre-delivery and postpartum. One of the best exercises for expectant mothers is swimming, because it is easy on pregnancy-vulnerable joints, the cool water prevents you from overheating, and the buoyancy of water alleviates some of the stresses of gravity on the extra weight you are carrying. I swam while pregnant, and I found swimming to be a lifesaver for me when I could no longer jog, do karate or do pilates. I actually managed to swim right up until the day before I gave birth, and feel like swimming helped me to stay in shape and have a complication-free birth.

READ MORE >

email this email this tweet this tweet this facebook this facebook this 1

Hit the Beach with Sprig’s DuneBug’s Sand Truck!

Hit the beach this summer with the eco-friendly DuneBug’s Sand Truck from Sprig. The DuneBug allows for a total beachy adventure, and it’s perfect for both sand and water play — featuring a built-in bucket, shovel, and rake in one easy-to-tote package. Your child can zoom the truck around or build an amazing sand castle. No worries about water splashes either; the DuneBug features special water-resistant materials that won’t dampen the fun!

READ MORE >

email this email this tweet this tweet this facebook this facebook this 0

Inhabitots Link Roundup of the Day

We’re loving this placemat to bib tutorial we found at luvinthemommyhood! This ‘super easy repurposing craft’ turns inexpensive, eco and baby friendly placemats into stylish, one-of-a-kind bibs! Kudos to this creative mommy!

First Barley and Birch debuted an adorable clothing collection for tots, and now they have a blog too. Go meet the masterminds …

READ MORE >

email this email this tweet this tweet this facebook this facebook this 0

‘Agon by Naef’ Swiss Made Sustainable Blocks

‘Going green’ often constitutes getting back to basics and surrounding one’s family with non-toxic goodness as well as visually engaging design. Eco-friendly furnishings and toys are a significant household investment, particularly when the product is as timeless as this Agon by Naef block set. Naef Toys of Switzerland stand for quality craftsmanship through and through. It is great to know that interactive design like this still comes in the form of beautiful Swiss Made objects, for both budding green minds and a lifetime of play.

READ MORE >

email this email this tweet this tweet this facebook this facebook this 1

Carton Furniture Kid’s Set by Riki Watanabe

The Carton Furniture Series, originally designed in 1965 by Japanese industrial designer Riki Watanabe, is an oldie but goodie. Reproduced by Tokyo’s Metropolitan Gallery, the Kid’s Set is made entirely out of folded cardboard. Although it ships flat, it’s easily assembled into a small table and a pair of stools using a system of tabs and notches—no adhesives or hardware required.

READ MORE >

email this email this tweet this tweet this facebook this facebook this 0

NEW! gCloth Washable Inserts by gDiapers

We’ve long lauded gDiapers for being the perfect compromise between the convenience of disposables and the reusability of cloth. (Both Jill’s son and my daughter are gBabies.) If you’re looking to make the leap to cloth diapers, the company’s new gCloth inserts have you—and your kidlet’s bum—covered.

READ MORE >

email this email this tweet this tweet this facebook this facebook this 0

Black gDiapers for Baby Sophisticates!

Love eco-friendly cloth diapers but tired of the childish, bubblegummy pink and blue designs that prevail in eco diaper options? gDiapers to the rescue for your urban hipster baby! As Inhabitots readers know, we’re big fans of eco-friendly gDiapers; so we were thrilled to hear the announcement that the flushable diaper company has recently added new glam black diapers to their line-up of little gPants.

READ MORE >

email this email this tweet this tweet this facebook this facebook this 0

TwistTogether LED Blocks Make Like a Tree

Just when we thought we could not be more enamored of Glide’s TwistTogether LED blocks, we spotted this window display the company created for the Museum of Modern Art’s Midtown Manhattan store. Using components from their technicolored “Candy” set, the designers pieced together a dazzling, psychedelic tree, complete with branches peeking from within its fluorescent yellow and green crown.

READ MORE >

email this email this tweet this tweet this facebook this facebook this 1

Polar Bear Bookshelf by iBride

We love polar bears; and we’re certain the Joe Bookshelf by iBride would be a majestic focal point in any room of the house, loved by children and adults alike. Created by a French family in the South of France, the Joe Bookshelf is constructed via a turn of the century process using high-pressure laminate with a pre-recycled wood core. iBride (pronounced e-breed) and meaning “hybrid,” is a play on words …

READ MORE >

email this email this tweet this tweet this facebook this facebook this 2

5 Eco-Friendly Summer Hats For Kids (Plus One for Mom and Dad!)

This summer’s hottest moves are slip, slop, slap, and wrap—that’s slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen, slap on a hat, and wrap on sunglasses whenever you venture outdoors. To help you and yours stay sun-smart, we’ve rounded up five sustainably stylish sun hats for babies and children, as well as a grownup version for Mom and Dad to keep the sun out of their eyes. (You need all the visual acuity you can muster once you’ve set the little ones loose!)

READ MORE >

email this email this tweet this tweet this facebook this facebook this 0

DIY Cardboard Rocket Play House

You could shell out $77 for a recycled-cardboard rocket to send your junior astronaut straight to the stars, but we prefer making our own for less than $10 with Say Something Designs’ downloadable plans. All you’ll need is some sturdy cardboard (packing boxes would work great), a utility knife, a pair of scissors, tape, and whatever crafty materials you want to decorate your new ride with. Easy to assemble and disassemble, the Rocket Play House stores flat, so you can stow it in a closet, under the bed, or on a shelf…until the countdown to the next mission begins.

READ MORE >

email this email this tweet this tweet this facebook this facebook this 0

FYS (Finish Your Self) Junior Chair by David Graas

The FYS (Finish Your Self) Junior Chair by David Graas is part puzzle, part functional chair. This piece was nominated for a best packaging award via the Dutch Design Awards 2007 — which is no surprise since the chair’s puzzle-like pieces are largely derived from the chair’s packaging. The packaging itself is made of 100% recyclable corrugated …

READ MORE >

email this email this tweet this tweet this facebook this facebook this 0

Progressive Kazam 3-in-1 Desk From Balouga

Unlike that closet full of shrunken rompers and too-tight tees, this inventive chair will outwit your child by growing as he grows, from toddling baby to surly teenager. Balouga’s Progressive Kazam 3-in-1 desk, made in France from sustainably sourced plywood and stainless steel, is adjustable to three different heights without any additional parts. Besides the flat tabletop …

READ MORE >

email this email this tweet this tweet this facebook this facebook this 0

Madsen ‘Bucket’ Bike Totes Precious Cargo… and More!

Madsen Bucket bicycles are arguably the first urban bicycles designed to transport groceries, laundry, surfboards and kids (though not all at the same time). “After hauling six neighbor kids around in a wheel barrow bucket bolted to the front of our first prototype, we started to realize what a bicycle can really do,” say the folks behind the development of the Madsen kg271/BUCKET bike. Their end product is a stylish mode of utility cycling, perfect for green minded parents looking to combine urban errand running with fun kid hauling!

READ MORE >

email this email this tweet this tweet this facebook this facebook this 0

Soothing Ewe Warming/Cooling Pack for Kids

For those occasions when no amount of kisses will make a boo boo better, there’s Nova Natural’s Soothing Ewe, a hot or cold pack disguised as a friendly, comforting sheep. Made in Germany from 100% organic cotton and filled with cherry stones, this woolly compress may be warmed in a microwave or chilled in the …

READ MORE >

email this email this tweet this tweet this facebook this facebook this 0

Tamago Recycled Paper Furniture

If you’ve ever done any papermaking, you know first hand the satisfaction of transforming slushy pulp into handmade sheets or sculpted forms. Tamago furniture is eco-friendly children’s furniture created out of 100% recycled paper pulp from egg cartons — and it puts a whole new spin on recycled packaging. The Tamago (’egg’ in Japanese) series consists of seven soft contour furniture forms that may be easily recombined to create letters and numbers for endless playtime fun. Even better… your little one can draw directly on the paper surface enabling personalized customization and ‘eggs-tra doodling’.

READ MORE >

email this email this tweet this tweet this facebook this facebook this 0